Q. If this is the way you always talked, I'm not surprised you angered them.

A. I am sorry.

Q. You turn everything around that's said to you.

A. I will try not to. It's like the bishop—he complained about the same thing, and I was only trying to—

Q. What bishop?

A. I forgot his name. He was the thin one; he was much cleverer than the others. He gave me an impossible choice, so I chose to make another start.

Q. You mean you got yourself burned again?

A. Yes! They did it to all their best people. Both sides did. I would have looked a precious fool if I'd backed down.

Q. Can't you bear to admit you are wrong?

A. But I wasn't wrong. Anyway, they'd have made me out in the wrong either way.